Beth Cotton Stephenson

Beth Cotton Stephenson, born on the 27th of December 1947, at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Houston, died on Wednesday, the 12th of December 2012, peacefully at her home in Houston with her husband and two sons by her side.

Beth, a native Houstonian, grew up in Southwest Houston and graduated from Bellaire High School in 1966, prior to attending Baylor University and obtaining a degree in Sociology in 1970. The week after graduating from Baylor she married her high school sweetheart, James F. “Jim” Stephenson, Jr., on the 6th of June 1970.

After working for Harris County Child Welfare as a case worker for 6 years, she devoted the remainder of her adult life to her family which was the single focus of her life. She enjoyed cooking and gardening as well as being an avid reader and being renowned for her grasp of trivia on a variety of subjects.

She was predeceased in death by her father, J.P. “Pat” Cotton, and mother, Tina Cotton. She is survived by her husband of 42 years, Jim; her sons, Brian Patrick and Timothy James, both of Houston; her brother, Joe Cotton and his wife, Chris, of Boerne; her mother-in-law, Marie Stephenson, of Missouri City; and her sister-in-law, Sally Benedict and her husband, Michael, of Bastrop.

A memorial service celebrating Beth’s life is to be conducted at half-past one o’clock in the afternoon on Saturday, the 15th of December 2012, at First Baptist Church Heights, 201 E. 9th Street, in Houston.

In lieu of customary remembrances, the family kindly requests that contributions be directed to Baylor University, University Development, 1 Bear Place #97050, Waco, TX, 76798; First Baptist Church Heights, 201 E 9th St., Houston, TX, 77007; or to the charity of one’s choice.